LA BALLONA VALLEY BROMELIAD SOCIETY NEWSLETTER

                          OCTOBER 2008

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                         October Meeting

Meeting: Wednesday, 22 October at 7:30 pm in the Rotunda Room at the
Veterans Memorial Hall.

Speaker + Raffle: Speaker Pam Koide from Bird Rock Tropicals will
supply the raffle table and bring sale plants as well

Drinks:  Julio Samaniego and Jean Yoshii

Food:  Don Misumi, Sandee Tripp, and Barbara West

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From Alan Levy:

                         Holiday Luncheon

Day and time:  12:00 on Saturday, 13 December

Location: El Torito, 3360 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405.

There will be a sign up sheet at the Oct meeting, or you can call Alan
at (XXX)XXX-XXXX or just show up at El Torito.  Tentative cost is
$10.00 for members -- more details at the meeting.

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From Denise Pidd:

                       Report:  Garden Hop              


The garden hop on September 20, was wonderful.  First we went to Karyl
Sisson's and once you get up her steep driveway you are treated to a
flat plateau with hoyas, bromeliads, succulents, orchids and many
plants all artfully displayed along with fountains and a lovely pool.
Then there are the paths all around her hillside home with beautiful
views and more plants of course.

Next we went to Barbara West's.  Every where you looked, there were
ceramic pots and figurines that Barbara made to add enchantment to her
garden.  There was a fig, apple, navel orange, pear and lime tree on a
medium sized lot, with an array of all sorts of plants.  It was just
glorious.  And to top it off she has a catzebo with a ramp to the
house for her beloved pets, so that they can come and go when they
wish.

Last we went to Ray VanVeen's.  He of course has every type of plant,
from orchids to bamboo. There is a tiered shelf attached to his wall
that must have had hundreds of plants on it with a misting system for
watering.  There was a beautiful waterfall with orchids and bromeliads
which makes you feel like you're in a small rain forest.  And in the
green house there are plants on shelves as well as hanging.  Every
inch is being utilized.  However, there was a small lawn on the upper
level for family.

I want to thank each of you for opening your gardens to us.  They were
all so beautiful and different and everyone who did not attend missed
a wonderful event.

Thanks again,

Denise 

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                        Administrivia

The La Ballona Valley Bromeliad Society meets the fourth Wednesday of
each month, January through October, in the Rotunda Room at Veterans
Memorial Hall, 4117 Overland Avenue, Culver City.

Please send any items for the newsletter to (email address redacted)

Emmit Willis, President
Jim Jaeger, Vice-President
Don Misumi, Treasurer
Gloria Grover, Membership
Jean Yoshii, Newsletter